KARACHI, Sept 18: The Sindh High Court issued notices for a date in office to the federal interior ministry and the provincial home department on Tuesday in a petition seeking the import of a bullet-proof vehicle by PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto for travel on her return to Pakistan.

Advocates Farooq H. Naek and Adnan Karim submitted on behalf of the PPP leader that the vehicle was required in view of the incidents of firing, suicide bombings and kidnappings across the country. Ms Bhutto shall have to travel extensively for mass contact, particularly in the run-up to the general election, her attorney and counsel informed a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Faisal Arab.

The advocates said that requests had been made to the interior ministry and the home department in this behalf but there had been no response, even after the lapse of considerable time. Every citizen was entitled to import bullet-proof vehicles subject to certain conditions under the law and the leader of the country’s most popular party should not be denied the facility, particularly in view of the forthcoming general election, they added.

PPP registration petition

Meanwhile, the hearing of Ms Bhutto’s petition against the registration of PPP splinter groups as the PPP (Patriots) was adjourned to October 25. The bench was informed that all the respondents, including Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal Khan and Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao, had been served notices.

Appearing on behalf of Mr Sherpao, Advocate M. Zahid Khan sought time for arguing his brief. Allowing the request, the bench adjourned the hearing. The Election Commission has already filed its comments, saying that no other individual or party came forward to seek registration as the PPP under the Political Parties Order of 2002.